"The happiness of a man in this life doesn't consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions."

ALFRED LORD TENNYSON

Are you thinking it too? That this vessel has an otherworldly quality that makes you want to touch it. Well you're not alone! I first saw the work of Eleanor Lakelin years ago, and it was one of those strange experiences when you can't quite figure out how someone could have created such masterful and beautiful work. The wood, cleverly manipulated in form and texture to produce objects that call simultaneously upon sensory experiences, nature and memory. I was taken back by the simple thought of the hours spent in producing these mesmerising textures and beautifully turned forms.

It is not often that you meet someone whose work you have built a relationship, but I have been placed in that fortunate position now as one of the participants selected to be part of The Craft Council's A Future Made. Eleanor Lakelin has been showing new work as part of A Future Made: Nature Lab in Design Miami/Basel and I can't say I'm not excited to see the pieces she will be producing over these coming months.

Eleanor's approach differs to my own in many ways not least in her responsive approach to the material at hand. She states:

"I am interested in the way natural elements and processes layer and colour wood and how the passage of time is etched into the fibres of the material. I peel back bark to reveal the organic chaos that can exist in the material itself or build up layers of texture through carving and sandblasting."

Needless to say Lakelin has mastered a method of exploration that gives life to beautiful and wonder-filled objects. Although self taught, she is clearly a master and a wizard in wood! Her Cockpits Arts based studio houses a wonder of woods and wood carving tools. However, if you can't wait till the next open studios you will be able to pop over to Creative Applied Arts, where you can find her Eroding Form, Time and Texture series. I myself am left inspired and hopeful in waiting for viewing her next works.

If Tyson's statement is true we can assume Eleanor Lakelin should be a very happy woman indeed.

Welcome!

I'm Simone, welcome to my site. I'm a London based artist and designer making work in a range of materials and scales. Here you will find a visual diary of the journey I undertake when creating my work.